Knockdown skeleton-frame cabinets



June 14, 1955 H. MORIN 2,710,784

KNOCKDOWN SKELETON FRAME CABINETS Filed June 13, 1952 II H JLL$1 25 H 7w \17 2'5 26 I INVENTOR LOUIS H. MORIN ATTOR fEY Unite atent OfiFice KNOCKDOWN JKELETQN-FRAME CABENETS Louis H. Morin, Bronx, N. Y., assignor to Doehler Metal Furniture Co., Inc, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application .l'une 13, 1952, Serial No. 293,268

3 Claims. (Cl. 3l2-25o) This invention relates to the construction of what 1 term knockdown or take-apart cabinets, more particularly, cab- ,inets of the type and kind used for reception of radio, television and similar apparatus. Still more particularly, the invention deals with a structure of the type and kind defined, wherein a skeleton metal frame is employed, upon which wood, fibre, plastic or other panels are attached, so as to provide a simple relatively light and, yet, strong and durable cabinet construction.

The novel features of the invention will be best understood from the following description, when taken together with the accompanying drawing, in which certain embodiments of the invention are disclosed and, in which, the separate parts are designated by suitable reference characters in each of the views and, in which:

Fig. l is a perspective view of the skeleton framework of a cabinet made according to my invention illustrating part of the wall structure thereon.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of one corner portion of the frame, as shown in Fig. l, on an enlarged scale.

Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view on the line 3-3 of Fig. l with parts of the construction broken away; and

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

In Fig. l of the drawing, I have diagrammatically shown the skeleton framework of a cabinet made according to my invention, the frame comprising a rectangular bottom frame 10, consisting of four angleiron strips joined to corner leg members 11 and attached to the corner leg members and extending upwardly from inner corner portions of the frame are four standards 12, forming the corner posts of the skeleton frame and joining the upper ends of these corner posts is a rectangular top frame 13 composed of angleiron strips which are mitered and welded together, as at 14. Another similar intermediate frame 13 is provided to brace the frame intermediate upper and lower ends thereof.

Considering Fig. 2 of the drawing, it will appear that the top frame 13 or the corner portions thereof fit snugly within the corner posts 12 and screws or bolts are passed through the posts 12 and the frame 13 to unite the same and similar fastenings are provided for the frame 13 as indicated at 15 in Fig. l of the drawing. In this manner, both frames 13, 13' can be detached with respect to the posts 12 thus facilitating collapsing of the skeleton frame, it being understood that the posts 12 are detached from the leg members 11, as later described.

In Fig. 3 of the drawing, I have shown a section through the lower portion of the posts 12 with part of one of the leg members 11 in section. Each leg member comprises what might be termed an angularly channelled body. Note also, in this connection, Fig. 4 of the drawing. The leg member has two angleiron extensions 16 which fit within the ends of the rails of the bottom frame 19 and are secured thereto by screws or bolts 17 and at the corner of the leg member is a raised rectangular abutment 18, against which the ends of the rails of the frame 10 abut. The lower flanges of the angleiron extensions 16 extend downwardly and are partially contracted to form the leg portions 19, note Fig. 1, and these portions have a bottom wall 20, to which casters 21 are secured. On the inner surface of the leg 19 and extending inwardly from the inner portion thereof is a projecting rib 22 having three vertically spaced apertures 23 for reception of screws 24 in securing the posts 12 to said leg members. Substantially triangular washers 25 are disposed to fit in the corner of the posts and to form seats for the screws, the washers 25 extending the full height of the rib 22 and have spaced apertures 26 for receiving the screws, note Fig. 4.

It will thus be seen that the bottom frame, as well as the leg members 11, are also readily detachable and all of these parts can thus be compactly packed and shipped in a relatively thin package of an area generally bounded by the two rectangular frames 13, 13 and of a thickness governed by the dimensions of the leg members. It will be apparent that extreme economy can be experienced in constructing cabinets of the type and kind under consideration and, at the same time, lightweight and strong and durable cabinets can be produced.-

Considering Fig. 1 of the drawing, it will be apparent that suitable apertures can be provided as indicated at 27 on the posts and frames 10, 13, 13 for attaching side panels, as for example, the panel 28 partially seen in Fig. l and the top wall 29 also shown in part in Fig. 1. The apertures 27 will be preferably formed to suit the fastener devices that are employed in mounting the panels or walls in position and special type of fastenings can be employed for this purpose.

It will appear from a consideration of Fig. 1 of the drawing that the posts 12 are disposed on the inner 'surface of the leg members and inwardly of the bottom frame strips 10. This provides around the skeleton frame recessed portions for receiving the panels 28 to keep such panels within the environment of the frame members 10. The frame members 10, including the legs, form supports for the lower edge of the panels 28.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A knockdown skeleton-frame for cabinets, comprising top, bottom and intermediate rectangular frames, the top and intermediate frame being of the same size and comprising four strips welded together to form unitary frames, the strips of said frames being of angleiron crosssectional form, the bottom frame being of greater rectangular dimensions than the top and intermediate frames and comprising four L-shaped corner leg members having side angleiron extensions, angleiron rails mounted on and secured to said extensions to form, in conjunction with said leg members, the bottom frame, posts of angleiron cross-sectional form arranged upon and secured to outer corners of the top and intermediate frame and upon the inner surfaces of said L-shaped leg members, and means securing the posts to said leg members.

2. A knockdown skeleton-frame for cabinets, comprising top, bottom and intermediate rectangular frames, the top and intermediate frame being of the same size and comprising strips of angleiron cross-sectional form, the bottom frame being larger than the top and intermediate frames and comprising four L-shaped corner leg members having side angleiron extensions, angleiron rails mounted on and secured to said extensions, posts of angleiron cross-sectional form arranged upon and secured to outer corners of the top and intermediate frame and upon the inner surfaces of said L-shaped leg members, means securing the posts to said leg members, said leg members having, at the inner surface of corner portions thereof, inwardly projecting ribs, and said last named means comprising fastener devices passed through the posts and entering said ribs.

3. A knockdown skeleton-frame for cabinets, comprising top, bottom and intermediate rectangular frames, the top and intermediate frame being of the same size and comprising strips of angleiron cross-sectional form, the bottom frame being larger than the top and intermediate frames and comprising four L-shaped corner leg members having side angleiron extensions, angleiron rails mounted on and secured to said extensions, posts of angleiron cross-sectional form arranged upon and secured to outer corners of the top and intermediate frame and upon the inner surfaces of said L-shaped leg members, means securing the posts to said leg members, said leg members having, at the inner surface of corner portions thereof, inwardly projecting ribs, said last named means comprising fastener devices passed through the posts and entering said ribs, triangular washers arranged at the lower References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 262,081 Mets Aug. 1, 1882 1,345,366 Jippson July 6, 1920 1,783,712 Hernandez Dec. 2, 1930 1,838,272 Lee Dec. 29, 1931 2,295,915 Ring Sept. 15, 1942 2,486,548 Blazey Nov. 1, 1949 2,572,081 Wallance Oct. 23, 1951 

